<![CDATA[This study examines the internalization of character values in fostering students’ independence at Darul Ikhlas Islamic Boarding School, Padangsidimpuan, Indonesia. Character education in Islamic boarding schools is important for developing students’ discipline, responsibility, and self-management through structured daily activities and religious practices. However, some students still experience difficulties in applying independent behavior consistently in daily life. Therefore, this study aims to analyze how independent character values are internalized through daily routines, teachers’ role modeling, social interaction, and institutional culture within the pesantren environment. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach involving the principal, teachers, dormitory supervisors, and students as participants. Data were collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, and analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing techniques. The findings showed that students’ independence developed through continuous habituation in activities such as congregational prayers, study schedules, dormitory responsibilities, and communal interaction. Teachers’ role modeling and social interaction also strengthened students’ discipline, responsibility, cooperation, and self-regulation. In addition, institutional culture and continuous supervision supported students’ behavioral adaptation within communal life. This study concludes that structured routines, religious habituation, social interaction, and teachers’ supervision play important roles in strengthening students’ independent character in Islamic boarding school education. The findings contribute to the development of character education practices and may serve as a practical reference for Islamic educational institutions]]>
